Question: We do not have curbside recycling in our area yet but it is scheduled for sometime in 2009. With just one garbage pickup per week, what happens if your garbage day falls on both Christmas and New Year's? Do they plan to go without any garbage pickup for two weeks in a row? That seems almost impossible.

Answer: This was one of those issues that had to be discussed with the United Public Workers union representing refuse workers, but the good news is that you won't have to wait two weeks in that circumstance.

Christmas Day and New Year's Day are the only two holidays observed by city refuse collection crews, said Markus Owens, spokesman for the Department of Environmental Services.

When refuse was collected twice a week and a collection day fell on those holidays, residents were asked to hold their refuse until their next scheduled pickup.

With the city shifting to once-a-week refuse pickup and once-a-week recycling pickup, it will make up missed refuse pickups on Christmas and New Year's a day or two following those holidays, Owens said.

However, recycling days falling on those holidays will NOT be made up.

“;Mixed recyclables and green waste should be held for the next scheduled pickup,”; Owens said.

Since not all communities have been switched to the city's new pickup system, the issue of no pickups on Christmas and New Year's will affect each area differently, he said:

» Those still receiving twice-a-week refuse pickup should hold their refuse for the next scheduled day.

» Those areas just coming onboard with the new program this month will continue to receive twice-a-week refuse collection, plus weekly recycling pickup, during the two-month transition period.

“;Therefore, they, too, will hold their refuse for the next scheduled pickup,”; Owens said.

» Mililani and Hawaii Kai are the only communities fully implemented with once-a-week refuse pickup.

This year, Christmas and New Year's days fall on a Thursday, which will affect areas of Mililani only, Owens said, while all of Hawaii Kai is on a Wednesday/Saturday schedule.

Since Thursday is a recycling pickup day, about 100 households in Mililani that opted to purchase the additional second-day refuse collection service will have their garbage collected a day or two after Christmas only, he said.

The city is discontinuing the option for residents to purchase a second refuse day in Mililani after this year, so New Year's day will not be affected, he said.

Mahalo

To Craig (store manager), but mostly to Daniel (assistant manager) at Fisher Hawaii, for taking care of me when I fainted at the checkout counter on Wednesday, Oct. 22. Mahalo also to the firefighters and ambulance crew who arrived quickly and attended to my needs. Having witnessed firsthand the kindness and professionalism exhibited by these fine men and women, I can assure the citizens of Honolulu that they are in good hands.—Grateful Honolulu Citizen